Dream Think Act

In America, there is something called a credit score which measures the credit worthiness of a person.  The exact formula used to compute this is held private and proprietary by the companies that calculate these, but generally it’s based on a person’s historical performance on meeting their debt obligations.  Credit card companies, home lenders, etc. then use this score to assess a person’s likelihood their debts will be paid timely and is usually one of the biggest inputs used in the decision to lend money to an individual or not.

Imagine now, that there was a credit score for you based on your history of personal interactions with other people.   Call it your Personal Credit Score or PCS. You PCS would be computed based on your past interactions with people you’ve come across with at work, school, family, friends or anywhere else with whom you may have come into contact.  Imagine a maximum of thousand points would be given to a person with full “Creditability”, what would your score be?  Would you be proud of your Personal Credit Score  report?

I believe this people credit concept will be institutionalized one day.  Perhaps far out into the future, but one day.  And when that happens, you’ll be way ahead of the game if you follow these twelve secrets to increase your own PCS.

First Impression
It is not necessarily fair and few may admit it, but within the first few seconds of meeting you, people will pass judgment on you.  If your first impression is bad, you’ve got a much tougher time to build future creditability with that person.  

Secret No.1 - Confident

Act confident.  Stand tall.  Believe in yourself.  When you believe in yourself, people will do too.  Your tone of voice, eye contact, body language and your choice of words reflect how people perceive how confident you are about yourself. 

Secret No.2 - Approachable

Put a friendly smile on your face.  Show your willingness to develop new relationships.  Give them a firm handshake.  Be humble, open and practice active listening.

Secret No.3 - Articulated

Prepare your 30 seconds elevator pitch or introduction, so you are ready.  Don’t tell them your life story.  Just enough to keep them interested.  Give your new friends a chance to talk.  Be precise and to the point. 

Secret No.4 – Clean

Always keep yourself clean including your body, hair, fingernails and clothes.  If you are among those who need deodorant, please USE IT!  No one enjoys talking to people whom have body odors.  I guess it is okay if you are Bill Gates… but still.

Always be on time or even early.  If you want people to count on you, you’ve got to show up.  As Woody Allen would say “Eighty percent of success is just showing up”.  I would add “Eighty percent of success is showing up ON TIME.”

Secret No.6 - Authentic

I often hear parents ask their kids:  “What are you going to be when you grow up?” If I were the kid, I would say, “Myself!”  J    Just be yourself.

Secret No.7 - Available

Pick up your phone.  Return email and voicemail.  Ninety percent of your success is to be available. 

Secret No. 8 - Passionate

A wise man once said “If you love want you do, you will never have to work a day in your life.”  When you are passionate about what you do and who you are, people will automatically be drawn to you.   

Secret No. 9 - Under Promise Over Deliver

If you promise something, do it.  Give them just a little bit more than they ask for.  It will go a long way.  Do things even it is not “your job.” 

Secret No. 10  - Honesty

Be honest.  Always tell the truth.  Even if the truth is painful.  

Maintaining Your Creditability

Secret No. 11 - Consistent

Just like paying bills on a monthly basis.  You need do things on a regular basis.  If you miss one payment, your credit score will hurt.  That’s the way it is.

Secret No. 12  - Say No

You cannot be a “yes” man or women all the time.  It is not possible.  You can NOT always be available, under promise and over deliver ALL the time.  Be honest with yourself and your friends.  People will respect your “No.”  

Think About This…

What is your credibility?  Are you improving or hurting it?   

Just Do This…

Do one thing that will improve your Personal Credit Score (PCS) everyday.

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